News
Community mourns death of popular primary school pupil, Zac
A YOUNG BOY in his final weeks at primary school, tragically lost his life after an incident at Angle Beach on Friday (Jul 1).
Zac Thompson, 11, was swept into the sea along with his elder brother and a friend.
The other two lads managed to swim to safety, but Zac got into difficulty.
Following rescue attempts by brave members of the public, Zac was carried to land but was unconscious.
Emergency services stabilised him, and he was flown to hospital.
Despite the best efforts of the medical team at Heath Hospital in Cardiff, he sadly passed away on Saturday.
Pembroke Dock Community School said on Facebook: “With the permission of the family, it is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Zac Thompson, who was a popular and much-loved character in Year 6 at Pembroke Dock Community School.
“He excelled academically, in particular in maths, who loved to solve complex mental maths challenges (keeping staff on their toes).
“He was also a talented sportsman. Zac recently played exceptionally well in cricket, helping the school get through to the area finals, which are due to be played this week.
“He had a cheeky smile, was funny and was looking forward to his final weeks in primary school, the summer holidays and all the opportunities that were open to him as he moved on to secondary school.
“Zac had a huge zest for life!”
“One sweet memory of him was when he was in Year 3, and it was Superhero Day. Zac came to school dressed as his favourite superhero – his Mum.
“Zac said: ‘Not all superheroes wear capes!’”
“This is a dreadfully sad time for his family, and our love, thoughts and prayers are with both his family and his wide circle of friends, who will miss his big character and mischievous nature.
“There will be many staff on hand to support the learners on Monday and beyond this week.
“We are heartbroken, Zac was a lovely young man, a valued pupil and will be greatly missed!”
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said “We were called on Friday 01 July at 9:17pm to reports of an incident in Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire. We sent one emergency ambulance and a duty operations manager to the scene.”
Dyfed Powys Police confirmed the following: “We were called to West Angle Bay, Angle, Pembrokeshire, at 9.25pm on Friday, July 1, following reports a child had been rescued from the water after experiencing difficulties.
“The child, 11-year-old Zac Thompson from the Pembroke Dock area, was airlifted to hospital where he sadly passed away.”
The Fire Service were not called to the incident.
A fundraiser has been set up to support Zac’s family:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/katie-jones-917
News
Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home
A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.
Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).
In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.
PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”
This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.
News
Milford Haven man caught with indecent images of children spared jail
A MILFORD HAVEN man, Gareth MacDonald, 23, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to downloading over 1,000 indecent images of children.
MacDonald, of Meyler Crescent, was arrested in March 2023 following a police search of his home. Acting on intelligence, officers seized multiple electronic devices, and MacDonald admitted to downloading the illegal images.
Swansea Crown Court heard that MacDonald accessed material spanning all severity categories, including images depicting the rape of pre-teen children.
He reportedly told police he had “become bored with legal pornography” roughly a year prior to his arrest.
Judge Geraint Walters sentenced MacDonald to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. As part of the sentence, MacDonald must:
- Complete 20 rehabilitation activity days
- Participate in the Horizon programme
- Register as a sex offender for 10 years
- Comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order
Judge Walters remarked that MacDonald had been accessing illegal content “for some considerable period of time” despite knowing it was wrong.
However, MacDonald, who has health problems, dodged being sent to jail and was able to leave the court a free man.
Crime
Ceredigion man sentenced for selling £150,000 in illegal DVDs
A CEREDIGION man has been sentenced for selling counterfeit DVDs worth £150,000 under major brand names without authorization.
David Robert Thomas, 47, from Sarnau, ran a sophisticated online operation, producing and selling fake DVDs labeled with brands like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Sony, and Universal City Studios LLC. Thomas used seven different websites and managed multiple bank and PayPal accounts, including those of family members, to carry out his business.
Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Counterfeiting is often thought of as a victimless crime, but it harms the local economy by undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and create real jobs. This result sends a clear message that counterfeit sales will not be tolerated, and we will act against offenders.”
Thomas pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Nov 11) and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. His sentence includes a four-month curfew and fifteen Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Under the Crime Act 2002, forfeiture proceedings will follow to reclaim the financial benefits from Thomas’s criminal activities. Judge Richards took into account the market value of equivalent genuine goods, the sophisticated setup of Thomas’s business, and his previously clean record in reaching the sentencing decision.
The case was brought forward successfully by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
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